Well pumping apparatus



Oct. 18, 1932. H. F.- WATKINS I ,8 3

WELL PUMPING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 7, 192B 2 Sheets-Sheet l III J'I||| II I II I N V EN TOR Ham l? E "67/013 M" ,ww

ATTORNEYS.

' 88 description:

Patented a. is, 1932 'PATENTF. OFFICE.

UNITED: ST TES HAROLD F. WATKINSQOF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA WELL PUMPING APPARATUS Application filed August 7, 1028. Serial no. 2915.104.

. simplified and made more effective and prac tical.

It is a further object of this invention to devise an oil well pump of the intermittent gas type which will not be affected by sand or sediment. It is another object of this invention to devise an oil well pump of the inter- 15 mittent gas type which will provide an adequate seal to prevent escape of gas.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following description in which I have set forth the preferred embodiment of 80 my invention. It is to be understood that the appended claims are to be accorded a range of equivalents consistent with the state of the prior art. q

Referring to the drawings for a detailed Fig. 1 is an elevational view in cross section showing the details of the valve mechanism which I prefer to employ.

v Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but show-- 80 mg the valve mechanism in a different operating position.

Figs. 3 and 4 are similar 1 and 2,

but showing a modified construction of valve mechanis Fig. 5 is a side elevational view in cross section illustrating a further modified form'of valve mechanism. v In Figure 1 I have shown a complete installation of my apparatus which utilizes actuating mechanism similar in construction to that disclosed in my copending application No. 278,090. The valve mechanism and associated pipestrings are shown operably positioned within 'a conventional oilwell 11. The actuating mechanism 10 is not being claimed er se in this application and may be briefl escribed as comprising a hydraulic cylin er 12 within which is arranged a hydraulic piston 13 connected to a piston rod 14.

Motion of piston rod 14 is applied directly to a pipe line 16 in order to vertically recip'rocate the same. Liquid under pressure is sup- .pliedto cylinder 12 from a suitable source of pressure such as the liquid pump 17 and control of the movements of piston 13 is efl'ected by an automatically operated control valve 18. By means of this valve and its associated actuating mechanism, liquid from pump 17 'is first introduced into cylinder 12 to force down piston 13, and when the piston has 60 reached the end-of a predetermined stroke, valve 18 interrupts introduction of liquid under pressure and exhausts liquid from the cylinder thru pipe 19 to permit return of the piston. By suitable means disclosed in said copending application, the speed of movement of the piston 13'can be controlled at will, the length of the stroke can be controlled, and the timing of a complete cyclic movement can be varied.

One form of my valve mechanism which is located in the well and its associated pipe strings is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In this case pipe string 16 serves the function of discharging oil from the well, and another pipe string 22 which surrounds pipe 16 and 1s concentric with the same, serves to convey gas under pressure from the. surface of the well down to the valve mechanism and is connected at its upper end with a source of com- 50 pressed gas thru pipe 20. Another pipe 23 may be provided for'forming the usual well casing.

Coupled to the lower end of the gas ipe string 22, there is a cylindrical working ar- 5 rel 24, which may be conveniently formed of. an outer shell 26 and an inner liner 27 of hard wear resisting metal. Fitted within the working barrel 24 there is-a valve member 28 which preferably is in the form of a no sleeve having its upper end coupled to the oil pipe line 16. Barrel 24 is provided with a setof ports 29 which cooperate with a set of ports 31 rovide'd in the side walls of the sleeve 28. sonnected with the lower end of '95 barrel 24, I prefer to provide an extension pipe 32 having its lower end provided with a plug or cap 33. In actual practiceI prefer to have cap 33 thirty or fort feet be low the lower end of working barrel 24. 1 00 sible. vided with perforations or a suitable strain- The function of pipe 32 is to form a relatively large reservoir for accumulation of sand and other sediment which otherwise might render operation of the valve impos The well casing 23 is of course proer so that oil may flow freely into the casing to a level which is a substantial distance above the valve n1echanism.-

In operating the apparatus described above, actuating apparatus located at the surface of the well and connected to pipe 16, is preferably adjusted so that during the lower part of the stroke of sleeve 28, ports 31 are in cooperative relationship with ports 29, while during the upper portion of the stroke, ports 31 clear the upper end of barrel 24, and therefore establish communication between the interior of sleeve 28 and the gas pipe string 22. During the lower portion of the stroke oil is therefore free to flow from the well through ports 29 and 31 into the oil pipe lines 16. When sleeve 28 is moved upwardly communication between the well and interior of pipe 16 is interrupted and then for a' substantial time period as sleeve 28 continues to move upwardly, there is no introduction of gas and no inflow of oil from the well. As sleeve 28 approaches the top of its stroke, ports 31 clear the upper end of barrel 24 and thus establish communication between the interior of pipe string 16 and pipe string 22. The result is that gas under high pressure in pipe 22 flows through ports 31 and forms a pneumatic lifting piston within the lower por' tion of pipe 16, thus lifting and forcing oil above it out to the surface of the well. The time period during which gas is permitted to flow into pipe 16 depends upon the de th of the well, the pressure of gas, and ot er factors which vary somewhat according to the particular well being pumped. In general however introduction of gas should not be carried past the oint where additional gas is no longer e ective to lift oil. As sleeve 28 is again lowered, flow of gas into pipe 16 is interrupted, and then for a substantial period neither flow of gas nor oil from the well occurs until ports 31 a ain register with ports 29, after which oil ows into pipe 16 from the well.

It is to be noted that in the above described valve mechanism only a single simple sleeve valve is provided and this sleeve has a single set of ports which perform the dual function of controlling both flow of oil and flow of gas.

A modification of my invention is shown in Figs. 3 and 4, in which only a single pipe string may be employed in addition to the usual well casing. In this case pipe string 36 serves to convey oil to the surface of the well and pipe string 37, which maybe the usual casing for the well, serves to convey gas down to the valve mechanism. Connected to the lower end of pipe string 36 there is a barrel 38 corresponding to the barrel 24 shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and slidably fitted within this barrel there is a valve sleeve 39. The upper end of sleeve 39i's connected to a cable or rod 41 and this rod extends to the surface of the well and is connected to the actuating mecha- 'nism at the surface of the well. Coupled to the lower portion of working barrel 38, there is another pipe 42 which preferably extends down into the well a substantial distance below the working barrel. A suitable packer 43 serves as a means for sealing the space between pipe 42 and the casing 37 and this packer inpractice is likewise located a substantial distance below the working barrel say thirty or forty feet. Below the packer 43, pipe 42 is in communication with the well so that oil from the well may flow upwardly thru this pipe and into the valve mechanism. \Vorking barrel 38 is provided with a set of ports 43, and sleeve 39 is provided with a set of cooperative ports 46. In the specific embodiment shown, the lower end of sleeve 39 is also provided with a suitable check valve 47, preferably of the ball type. The upper portion of sleeve 39 is in communication with pipe 38 thru passages 49.

In case of the apparatus shown in Figs. 4 and 5, gas under pressure is introduced into the upper portion of casing 37 and the upper end of pipe 36 is connected with an oil dis charge pipe. Rod 41 is reciprocated by the apparatus 10 to lift the valve sleeve 39 and to permit it to drop by gravity. When the sleeve is in the lower part of its stroke, the inner portion of the sleeve is in communication with pipe 42 thru ports 46, and therefore oil from the well is free to flow from the sleeve thru passage 49 into the oil pipe string 38. Opening of check valve 47 at this time permits more rapid flow, of oil. moved upwardly, flow of oil into the sleeve is first arrested and then as ports 46 register with ports 44, gas from casing 37 is blown into sleeve 39 and thus into the lower portion of oil pipe string 38. In normal operation, a substantial quantity of oil is within the casing 37 above the packer 43, and this oil forms an effective liquid seal to prevent escape of gas from the casing 37.

The apparatus shown in Fig. 6 is similar to that shown in Fi s. 4 and 5, except that the check valve 47 has been eliminated. In this case the lower end of sleeve 39 is provided with a plug or cap 51.

Certain subject matter disclosed herein is claimed in co-pending application Serial No. 278,090, filed May 16, 1928.

I claim:

1. In an oil well pump, concentric gas and oil flow pipe strings adapted to extend into a well, a working barrel connected to the lower end. of one of said pipes, a valve sleeve slidably disposed in said barrel, means for When sleeve 39 is cyclically reciprocating said sleeve, ports formed in said barrel, rts formed in said sleeve, said latter ports ing carriedbeyond one end of the worlrin barrel in one position of the sleeve and registering with the first ports in another position of the sleeve, and

a source of gas under pressure connected to said gas pipe string, said barrel and valve sleeve being so associated with said pipe that in one position of said sleeve oil may flow into the oil pipe strin but flow of gas is arrested and in said 0t er position gas flows into the oil pipe string and flow of oil from the well into t e oil string is arrested.

2. In an oil well pump, a pipe string extending into the well, an oil discharge pipe string extendin into'the well within said first pipe, a woriing barrel connected to the oil 1pc, another pipe connected to said bargorel low said oil ipe and extended downwardly below said barrel, packin means sealing the space betweentsaid ot er pipe and said first pipe string, a source" of gas under ressure connectedwith the upper portion 0? said first pipe, and valve means associated' with said barrel for alternately permitting flow of oil and gas into said oil pipe string.

3. In an oil well pump, tending into the well, an

string, extendin in first pipe, a wor kin oil plpe, another pipe connected to said barrel below said oil i and extended downwardly below said finch acking means sealiin the space between said other pipe and em pressure connected with the upper portion of said first 1pipe, a valve sleeve fitted within said barre means for cyclically moving said sleeve, and cooperating ports formed in said barrel and sleeve for alternately permitting flow of oil and gas into said oil pipe string. 4. In an oil well tending into the weil, an oil discharge a pipe string exto the well withm said pipe, a working barrel connected to the oil oil dischar epi e g barrel connected to the st pipe string a source of gas under ire strmg extendmg into the well within said iirst rel below said oil pipe and extended downwardly below said barrel, packing means scab ing the space between said other pipe and said first pipe string, a source of gas under pressure connected with the upper portion of said first pipe, a valve sleeve fitted within said barrel, means for cyclically moving said sleeve, and means prov1ded by the construction of said barrel and sleeve for alternatel permitting flow of oil and gas into said 011 pipe string.

6. In an oil well pumdp, concentric gas and oil flow pipe strin s a apted to extend into a well, a working arrel connected to the oil ipe, a valve sleeve slidably disposed in said arrel, a rod extending downwardly thru said pipes and connectedto said sleeve to reciprocate the same from the surface of the well,

my hand.

F. WATKINS.

ump, a pipe string ex-- I ipe, another plpe connected to said barrel beow said oil 51138 and extended downwardly a ubstantial istance below said barrel, packmg means, sealing the space between said ot er pipe and said first pi string, said packing means'bein ted a loca substantialdistance below said arrel a source of gas under pressure connected with the upper portion 0 said first ipe, and valve means associated with said arrel for alternately rmittingflow of oil and of gas into said gil pipe str1ng,sa1d gas forming pneumatic liftmg pistons. I

5. In an oil well pump, apipe string extending into a well, an oil discharge pipe string extending into the well within said first pipe, a working barrel connected to the 65 oil pipe, another pipe connected to said barpipes below 

